PGW
Completes Testing with DOE on Sungate® EP Glass
June 3, 2009
Pittsburgh Glass Works LLC (PGW) has announced that it has completed
testing with the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) that shows that its Sungate EP auto glass
improves fuel efficiency and cabin comfort in plug-in hybrid electric
vehicles (PHEVs).
According to a statement from PGW, the testing was conducted on
PHEVs while utilizing the vehicles' air conditioning; the groups
found that the PHEV was cooler and used less fuel in a test that
simulated the Sungate EP glazing in the windshield and backlites
than in a vehicle with standard glazing. The test utilized the Urban
Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS), also known as the "city
test," as specified by the Environmental Protection Agency
for city driving.
"Over repeated UDDS cycles, the Sungate EP glazing reduced
the air conditioning power and resulted in an increase in fuel economy,"
says John Rugh, senior mechanical engineer for NREL. "The adjusted,
utility factor-weighted fuel economy increased from 36.8 to 42.9
mpg for the Sungate EP thermal load case, while the adjusted, UF-weighted
electrical energy consumption was roughly equivalent."
The adjustment and utility factor take into account real world
factors such as aggressive driving and miles driven between charging.
Mukesh Rustagi, PGW's director of strategic product management,
says that the Sungate EP infrared reflective glazing has been designed
to reject almost 97 percent of the sun's infrared energy. The lower
heat load due to the Sungate EP glazing in the test vehicle resulted
in a 15 degree F reduction in cabin air temperature at the end of
the heat soak period. After running the vehicle for approximately
1.5 hours, with the air conditioner set on maximum, the cabin air
temperature for the Sungate EP case was still 4.5 degrees cooler
than base glass.
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